JAMAICA’S CLASSY netballers won the silver medal at the Commonwealth Games after a titanic tussle with Australia on Sunday night.

While there will be initial disappointment, the team from the Caribbean have been the team of the tournament and won themselves a legion of new fans despite 55 – 51 defeat at Birmingham’s NEC.

The silver, on the nation’s independence weekend, was some reward for the ‘Sunshine Girls’ who illuminated the netball tournament.

This was Jamaica’s first ever Commonwealth Games final while Australia were contesting their seventh successive. In the end, experience told. Winning netball gold chalked up the Aussies’ 1000th gold medal.

The team from the Caribbean possess world class players and have clearly seen the benefits of some of their number playing the game in Australia, seen as the quality hub of the sport.

Jamaica have beaten the very best in the world in Birmingham, they saw off Australia in their final pool match and then put world champions New Zealand to the sword in the semis.

In many ways, Jamaica’s belief that they could win Commonwealth gold appeared to come when they hammered neighbours Barbados by a stunning 103 – 24 margin. Their desire in the final stages of that match was clear. They never lost it thereafter.

The final was a tremendous advert for the sport. It ebbed and flowed and got the heartbeat racing throughout.

First blood and goal went to the Australians but Jamaica’s inspirational leader and goal-shooter, Jhaniele Fowler-Reid, hit back straight away.

Some of the play was mesmeric from both sides. It was also a physical encounter with no quarter given. Errors were rare but if anything it was the Aussies who were making them early on. However, with big night nerves out of the way, the team in green then turned on the style and raced ahead. Gutsy Jamaica fought back and the first fifteen minutes ended 14-12 to Australia.

Jamaica goal-attack Shanice Beckford opened the scoring as the second quarter got underway. She levelled the game moments later. 14-14.

Then it was the Aussies’ turn and goal-shooter, Gretel Bueta, was displaying her awesome skills in front of goal.

The ‘Sunshine Girls’ went ahead, 18-17, courtesy of Fowler-Reid and the pro Jamaica arena went wild! Jamaica were now bossing it and looking good. At one stage, they were 22-18 up.

The Aussies came roaring back to regain the lead. A simply devastating quarter ended 29-all.

The third quarter was the game changer. Australia scored the opening goal and raced ahead 32-29. They stepped on the gas even further and the score was now 37-30. The game was slipping away from Jamaica as the women in green then went ahead 39-30 in the blink of an eye.

With minutes to go the Aussies were ten ahead and looking good for the gold medal. It was now 45 -39 with just fifteen minutes to go.

Australia scored the opener and possession was the name of the game at this stage. Jamaica gave it everything but the Aussie know-how was evident, finding spaces on court and being dead-eye when it came to taking their chances.

Jamaica never gave up and kept clawing the score back. With five minutes to go it was 52 – 46 and the Aussies were almost there.

The end of the game saw Australia celebrate while Jamaica just fell short in an epic game that saw both sides promote netball in the best possible fashion.

Jamaica: Jhaniele Fowler, Shanice Beckford, Khadijah Williams, Nicole Dixon-Rochester, Jodi-Ann Ward, Latanya Wilson, Shamera Sterling

Subs: Shimona Nelson, Adean Thomas, Rebekah Robinson, Shadian Hemmings, Kadie-ann Dehaney

Coach: Connie Francis